George Washington University Athletics
Varsity Women's 8 Falls to No. 9 Boston University
4/10/2000 12:00:00 AM | Crew
Conditions were extremely challenging for the crews Saturday as they raced into strong headwinds which made the last 500 meters of the race course very choppy. In an effort to increase the fairness and safety of the races, officials decided to shorten the afternoon race distance from 2,000 meters to 1,750 meters. The decision eliminated much of the rougher water and allowed the crews to continue racing. The last race of the day was cancelled, however, after the GW Women's Varsity 8 took on too much water and swamped just after pushing off the dock for their race. The shell (which is new and was scheduled to be dedicated April 16) did suffer damage and will need to be repaired before it can be raced again.
In the morning race the varsity had better luck as it took on 9th-ranked Boston University and the U.S. Naval Academy for the Virginia Playfair Trophy. All three crews were even through the first 500 meters, however the powerful Terriers began to make their move 750 meters into the race.
Through the halfway point GW and Navy were even but Boston University had pushed ahead to almost a full length lead. As the three crews came into the final 500 meters, BU continued to increase its margin, while the GW women increased their stroke rate and began to pull away from Navy. In the end, BU proved too powerful, winning by an open water margin over GW, while the GW crew finished a full boat length ahead of the cadets. Boston University took home the trophy but GW's close second to the Terriers solidified GW's place among the top varsity women's crews in the country. The GW women were ranked 21st in the April 5 National Collegiate Coaches Rowing Poll.
The GW Crews host the 13th Annual GW Invitational Crew Classic Saturday, April 15 on the Potomac River. Preliminary races begin at 8:30 a.m.
2nd Novice 8
BU 7:23.53
GW 7:46.67
GW(3N) 7:55.88
Navy 8:10.46
Novice 8
BU 6:55.15
GW 7:17.77
Navy 7:21.46
Varsity 4
Navy 7:54.40
BU 7:59.57
GW 8:34.21
2nd Varsity 8
BU 7:04.80
Navy 7:10.38
GW 7:33.04
Varsity 8
BU 6:50.16
GW 6:56.61
Navy 6:59.82
afternoon races (1,750 meters)
Novice 8
Duke 6:20.25
GW 6:26.74
GW(2nd Varsity8) 6:33.54
2nd Novice 8
Duke 6:38.61
GW(3rd Novice 8) 6:41.37
GW 6:43.00
Varsity 8 (cancelled due to poor conditions)
GW
Duke
April 8 Race Results:
Morning Races (2,000 meters)
